Previous Emerging Collaborations Grantees

The projects in the 2021 Central Standards Request for Proposals (RFPs) (now known as Emerging Collaborations) aimed to advance at least one or more of the strategic priorities of the Kauffman Foundation: inclusive prosperity in the Heartland, rural revitalization, and transitioning to an entrepreneurship- and innovation-led economy.

2021 Grantees (Round 2, Fall)

Bio Nebraska

Partner: UNeTech

Support for the launch of Opportunity Corps, an I-Corps inspired program designed to support women in STEM as they explore the viability of launching tech ventures.

Center on Rural Innovation

Partners: Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc., Emporia Chamber of Commerce

Support to establish a cohort of four rural Heartland communities for the purpose of providing customized ecosystem strategies and education programs for entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Emerging Builders

Partner: Verge Solutions

Support for expansion of the entrepreneurship education program at Emerging Builders, an organization providing education to individuals pursuing a career or launching a business in the trades in the Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas region.

Invest Nebraska

Partners: Northeast Community College, Northeast Growing Together Initiative

Extend Invest Nebraska’s Operational Assistance Program for entrepreneurs, collaborate with Northeast Community College to focus on agriculture related startups, and stimulate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Norfolk, Nebraska region.

Iowa Center for Economic Success

Partners: Muscatine Community College, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Support for the statewide expansion of Iowa Center for Economic Success to the Muscatine and surrounding areas. The Iowa Center’s mission is to empower Iowans with the potential to succeed as they pursue opportunities for financial success. It is our belief that to be successful in small business one needs support in education, capital, and networking. We provide a wide array of services to support local entrepreneurs including 1:1 counseling sessions, education, networking opportunities, access to capital, and many other services.

Missouri University of Science & Technology

Partners: Lincoln University, Washington University in St. Louis

Support for the launch of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center to develop and coordinate technology focused entrepreneurship education programs at Missouri University of Science & Technology, Lincoln University, and Washington University.

Muscatine Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Partners: Return to Better Institute, Institute for Work and the Economy

Support for the launch of the Return to Better framework for entrepreneurial ecosystem building, using a tangible set of tools & resources created to seed, build, and grow entrepreneurs and small businesses from all walks of life in Muscatine, Iowa. This balanced approach to nurturing entrepreneurs through multiple phases of their growth connects capital, education, and resources for measurable social and economic impact across the entire community.

NXTUS

Partner: Greater Wichita Partnership, Network Kansas

Support for the expansion of the NXSTAGE Competition at NXTUS which is designed to support startups in sectors that are aligned with the economic strengths of Kansas. Startups will be supported in developing relationships and pilot projects with mature business customers throughout the region.

NewBoCo

Partners: Kiva US, Jane Boyd Community House, GlobalGood Fund

Support for the launch of the Iowa Kiva Hub to enhance capital access for low- to moderate-income Iowans across the state.

2021 Grantees (Round 1, Summer)

Celebrate EDU

Partner: ESU-13

Support for the establishment of entrepreneurship education programs, in partnership with local ESU-13, to support entrepreneurs with disabilities in Western Nebraska.

Employee Ownership Expansion Network

Partner: Missouri Center for Employee Ownership

Support for the launch of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership to provide education to current business owners and prospective entrepreneurs on employee ownership structures and concepts.

Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc.

Partner: St. Louis Development Corp

Support developing and launching the UrbanMain entrepreneurship support program to provide education for entrepreneurs operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in St. Louis, MO.

Nebraska Community Foundation

Partner: Valley County Community Foundation Fund

Support to establish a cohort of twenty rural Nebraska communities for the purpose of providing customized entrepreneurship education programs and facilitated peer-based entrepreneurship support best practices.

The Prospect Urban Eatery (Community Capital Fund)

Partner: Catalyst Kitchens

Support to launch The Prospect Urban Eatery, a kitchen incubator providing entrepreneurship education and prototyping support to low-income food industry entrepreneurs in Kansas City, MO, which is operated by The Prospect KC, a groundbreaking organization working to increase the rates of minority employment and successful businesses, as well as improve social equality. The Prospect KC is fiscally sponsored by Community Capital Fund (CCF), a Kansas City, MO, nonprofit service organization that since 2012 has supported innovative community development initiatives.

University of Iowa

Partner: MIT Venture Mentoring Services

Support for the establishment of a statewide entrepreneurial mentorship program delivered through the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers in the state of Iowa. The Iowa mentor program will utilize the MIT Venture Mentoring Services model that has been implemented in over 100 organizations.

WEPOWER STL

Partner: Kiva

Support for the establishment of a Kiva Hub in St. Louis, MO, to provide micro-lending capital access options to entrepreneurs from communities in the region that have been systemically left behind.